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High speed & subterranean transportation: Technology advancements for the future
G By Stephen Rachow
26 | Asia Australian PacificSecurity SecurityMagazine Magazine
lobal population growth and continual technology disruption means densely populated cities are implementing high speed and subterranean mass transportation services for high volume people movement. A shift away from traditional ground surface transportation brings its own vulnerabilities, requiring review and implementation of counter-terrorism, security, and safety measures. Capitalising on disruptive technology advancements allows exploitation of science from many industries into the security context to mitigate risks associated with these new transportation forms. Consistent with Sun Tzu’s philosophy, mitigation measures need to be implemented strategically in a sophisticated fashion so that it does not expose or create other areas of weaknesses. Sun Tzu stated, “Should an enemy strengthen his vanguard, he will weaken his rear, should he strengthen his rear, he will weaken his vanguard, should he strengthen his left, he will weaken his right, should he strengthen his right, he will weaken his left, if he sends reinforcements everywhere, he will everywhere be weak.” Displacement of crime or displacement of targets in terrorism driven offences is a real issue, and while catastrophic risk contexts such as terrorism drive the initial implementation, we see the focus shift towards combating serious organised crime as well. Accordant with societal risk management and Garcia’s maturity model of security technology, advanced security commences at defined high-risk facilities (airports, government critical infrastructure sites), but as it matures and costs reduce, derivatives are used across lower risk contexts (places of mass gatherings [PMGs] such as stadiums or transportation hubs). This means that in accordance with security principles, utilising advanced security technology will enable strengthening through exploiting the capabilities of automation in systems at the concentrated higher and lower risk points without weakening resources from other security areas.
Advances in Security Technologies Robotics, software-based intelligence, sensing and recognition devices, and self-learning systems are founded on the concept of automation and are change drivers providing the platform for significant digital transformation over the next 30 years. Predictions such as ambient computing, ambient intelligence, and transhumanism bring with them augmentation extortion and corruption, increasing vulnerabilities for both cyber and physical security systems. Harnessing technology advancements by fusing various automation security systems enhances threat detection to align with developing superpowers and their associated threats. Australian Transportation Vulnerabilities Within Australia, several high cost mass transportation plans are being considered, such as: Melbourne underground trains ($50 billion), Brisbane Cross River Rail ($5.4 billion), and high speed rail between Melbourne and Brisbane ($110 billion). The high speed and subterranean nature cultivates new vulnerabilities including opportunities to: inflict harm or death to mass numbers of people in enclosed underground and less escapable PMGs situations; cause significant public fear and anxiety with symbolic statements that resonate terrorist objectives; affect more damage to critical infrastructure from the consequences of attacking vehicles running at high speed; and, jeopardise the economy from significant monetary losses against the high costs associated with building and managing this type of transportation if a successful terrorism attack should occur. In addition, there exists the vulnerability of exploitation by organised crime for economic reasons, which where possible, should be countered. Threats to High Speed & Subterranean Transportation By nature, these transport systems are open to the public, very accessible and vulnerable to attack. As such a significant threat is the ability for motivated offenders to carry explosives, weapons, drugs or alcohol in a concealed manner in baggage or under clothing without being detected into
